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The Heart of the Land Trust: Our Volunteers

At the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust, conservation isn’t just about protecting land—it’s about people. People who care deeply about their communities, the woods and waters that define this region, and the future we’re all shaping together.

Volunteers are at the core of that work. They are the ones walking conserved properties in the rain, reviewing maps and management plans, writing thank-you notes, hosting events, serving on committees, and helping make difficult decisions about how—and where—we conserve land.

Some of our volunteers have been with us for years. Others just joined. All of them bring something valuable: their time, perspective, and a willingness to show up for something that matters.

Volunteer Monitors: Helping with Conserved Lands

Every year, our land trust monitors each of our conserved properties that are protected with conservation easements, a voluntary conservation agreement where the land is continued to be owned by the landowner, and not our land trust. Under the guidance of staff, these individuals walk the fields, forests, and trails, checking on the land and ensuring the conservation agreements are being upheld. They take notes, photos, and the time to listen to landowners and land alike.

Thank you to all who have served as monitors, including: Robert Adair, Lori & Frank Balantic, Gene Bergoffen, Doug Burnell, Anne Pillion, Chris Costello, Larry Donoghue, Jim Doucette, Kaitlyn Ellis, Charlie Felton, Larry Garland, Dexter Harding, Doug Haver, Lisa Holcomb, Jamie Riel & Caren Hutchinson, Tricia Mattox-Larson & Steve Larson, Bob Laufer, Wendell Lees, Kristen & David McDermott, Phil & Ann Ostroski, Carl Rosenthal, Tony & Jenny Simone, Meg Simone, Earl Sires, Sean Wadsworth, Tish Hanlon & Stephen Weeder, David Wood, Jessica Wright

Committee Volunteers: Guiding the Work

Volunteers help guide and grow Upper Saco Valley Land Trust through service on our Board of Directors and committees. They offer professional skills, local insight, and countless hours of thoughtful discussion. Whether planning for the future of community forests or assisting with community programs and events, these volunteers make conservation possible.

Our current volunteer committees include:

Land Committee: Ken Olson, Ann Bennett, Tucker Gordon, Jeff Lathrop, Sean Wadsworth, Doug Burnell, David Wood, Chris Marshall, Gail Ferreira, Stan Rullman, Carissa Milliman, Alex Drummond, Dan Stepanauskas, Mike Laracy

Development Committee: Jennifer Snell Rullman, Jim Hastings, Ken Olson, Linda Gray, Lindsay Kafka, Megan-Mack Nicholson, Meghan Moody-Schwartz, Susan Wiley, Chris Marshall, Tom Brown

SACo Committee: Lindsay Kafka, Chris Marshall, Mike Laracy, Megan-Mack Nicholson

Pine Hill Community Forest Management Committee: Doug Burnell, Maryanne Dunfey, Jeremiah Beach, Rob Adair, Larry Garland, Lori Kinsey, David Weathers

Dundee Community Forest Advisory Committee: Peter Benson, Ann Bennett, Lindsay Kafka, Anne Pillion, David Shedd, Ben Halcyon, Craig Billie, Rick Jenkinson, Jeremiah Beach, Ken Kimble, Mike Dufilho, Trevor Limmer, Amanda Peterson, John Tymon

Ham Hocks (Ham House Ad Hoc Committee): Anne Pillion, Ann Bennett, David Shedd, Stephen Weeder

Thinking About Volunteering?

We’d love to hear from you. Whether you're curious about trail monitoring, want to help at an event, or have a particular skill to offer, we welcome your interest. The time commitment varies—some roles are one day opportunities, others are ongoing. We’ll work with you to find something that fits.

Reach out to info@usvlt.org to start the conversation.